Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the phrase "don't take no jive".
This post provides some definitions of the word "jive" and "jive talk". An example of a children's cheer with the phrase "don't take no jive" is included in this post. An example of a university (American) football chant that also includes this phrase is also included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/examples-of-childrens-foot-stomping.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents all the examples of children's foot stomping cheers that I have collected as of this date that include the phrase "don't take no jive".
The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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DEFINITIONS OF THE WORD "JIVE" AND THE PHRASE "JIVE TALK"
Note: There are a number of definitions for the word "jive". This is the definition that I think is the best fit in the context of these cheers/chant:
From https://www.yourdictionary.com/jive
"To speak to (someone) in an exaggerated, teasing, or
misleading way.
verb
The definition of jive is to talk in a way that is insincere
or exaggerated in an attempt to fool people.
To jive is to tell a group of people about a wealthy
relative that you really don't have just because you want to impress them."
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Here's another online definition of the word "jive" with the definition that I think is the best fit highlighted in italics:
From https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Jive+talk
v. jived, jiv·ing, jives
v.intr.
1. To play or dance to jive music.
2. Slang
a. To talk in an exaggerated, teasing, or misleading way.
b. To talk or chat: "You just jive in one big group,
putting each other on, trying to top the last line" (Time).
[…]
v.tr. Slang
To speak to (someone) in an exaggerated, teasing, or
misleading way.
adj. Slang
Misleading, phony, or worthless: talking jive nonsense."
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EXAMPLE OF A CHILDREN'S CHEER
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see my just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
-Apples On A Stick: The Folklore Of Black Children by
Barbara Michels and Bettye White (1983; p. 14)
-snip-
The preface of this book indicates that these examples came from Black children who lived in Houston, Texas.
Every "Hollywood Swinging" cheer/hand clap rhyme doesn't include the "don't take no jive" phrase. For example, the earliest example that I found (a cheer from 1976: Washington D.C.) on the Old Mother Hippletoe:Rural And Urban Children' Songs vinyl record.
The entire "Hollywood Swinging" cheer/hand clap rhyme is about a girl boasting about how "bad" (meaning good) she is. Using stock rhyming lines that are memorized or improvised, each soloist brags about herself. The "don't take no jive" phrase should be understood in that context.
The soloist is declaring that she should be respected and shouldn't have to deal with weak, insincere, corny, or foolish talk from others. Although some definitions sites don't agree, I think that in the context of these children's cheers, "jive" may also refer to insults or taunts, i.e. "trash talk" ("talking smack"). If so, the soloist is saying that she (also) doesn't want to waste her time dealing with that kind of jive talk.
The line "'Cause mighty [insert girl's name] don't take no jive" is therefore both a boast and a threat, i.e. There will be consequences if a person tries "jiving" her.
Note that this is an example of an introduction and taunting footstomping cheer. There are other types of footstomping cheers (for instance, cheers that serve as opportunities to show off one's dancing and stepping skills). These taunting cheers should be considered "dramatic plays" in which girls put on the role of a tough, street wise girl (although that wasn't how they acted "in real life".
-snip-
Foot stomping cheers not only have a signature textual pattern, they also have a signature group synchonized foot stomping/ individual handclapping movement routine that is performed without stopping throughout the entire cheer. The movement for these cheers closely resembles and was probably patterned after historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority stepping. Probably the most widely known "foot stomping cheer" is "Shabooya Roll Call" that is performed (in what I consider a very exaggerated style) in the 2006 cheerleader movie Bring It On All Or Nothing.
Around 2007 I stopped collecting children's rhymes and cheers offline (through observation and directly asking children about their recreational activities). However, I still search online for these cheers, but haven't come across any examples after around 2007. My guess is that foot stomping cheers are rarely performed anymore, at least not the way they were in the 1980s to the early 2000s. If that's the case, one reason for the demise of foot stomping cheers is that that informal recreational activity was started in imitation of actual cheerleading. However, it has become easier for Black American girls to join actual cheerleading squads and the structure of foot stomping cheers (where every member of the group has to have an equal time as the soloist) isn't compatible with actual cheerleading experiences. I think that two other reasons for the demise of the informal recreational activity I refer to as "foot stomping cheers" is the popularity of Hip Hop majorette dance teams (such as the Dancing Dolls on the television series Bring It!) and the existence of high school, middle school, and other pre-university step teams.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list_6.html "Foot Stomping Cheers Alphabetical List (H - J)" for more information and examples of "foot stomping cheers" in general and "Hollywood Swinging" cheers in specific.
EXAMPLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA "DON'T TAKE NO JIVE" CHANT
When I was used google to search the internet for other examples of children's cheers that include the "don't take no jive" phrase*, I got several results for this University of Florida football chant:
"
(and some other websites)
My guess is that this cheer is based on the "Hollywood Swinging" footstomping cheers and other footstomping cheers that include that "don't take no jive" phrase.
My guess is that that football chant means that no competitor's "trash talk" and no actions by their competitor will distract the University of Florida team from their goal of winning the game.
-snip-
For what it's worth, I didn't find any other examples of children's cheers with the "don't take no jive" other than the ones that I had already collected. All of those examples are given in Part II of this pancocojams series.
If you remember any cheers that include this phrase, please add to the folkloric collection by sharing those examples online. Remember to add demographic information such as where (city and state or nation if outside of the USA) you learned that cheer and when you first learned that cheer (year/decade). Thanks in advance!
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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.
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